Children's Home run by Holywell Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 1 Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post and registered with Ofsted since July 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor, and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Good 29/06/2022 Full Good 30/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child living at the home spoke to the inspectors during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not benefit from consistent care or responses from the staff team, and this has negatively impacted their overall experiences and progress in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

When children face barriers to learning and are not engaged in a structured plan of education, professionals working with the child have failed to implement supportive plans to help the child overcome their anxieties. Children’s needs have not been fully understood, and there has not been effective challenge by leaders and managers. Children’s educational outcomes have been compromised, and progress is not being made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s health needs are met. Staff support children in attending routine medical appointments, such as those with dentists, GPs and opticians. When children require a specialist medical appointment, staff make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the child attends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not benefit from consistent responses from the staff team. This is because the plans relating to the child’s care are not kept up to date and do not contain the most relevant information about the child’s risks and daily care needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child takes part in weekly therapeutic support sessions that help them talk about their worries and anxieties. The child said about the therapist, ‘She understands me.’ The child engages in activities such as football, cooking and baking. These activities support the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Safer recruitment processes are not always followed. Not all recruitment checks have been carried out, and references from previous employers are not always obtained. Therefore, the provider cannot be certain that staff are suitable to care for children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Risk management plans do not reflect the child’s current risks and needs and are not regularly reviewed by leaders and managers. As a result, staff do not have up-to-date information to help them manage children’s risks in a safe way.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

When children raise complaints against members of staff, these are partially addressed but lack management oversight to enable leaders and managers to reflect on the relationships between children and staff and to consider how best to encourage positive relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 4 When serious incidents occur, the recording is inconsistent and does not always detail the reasons behind them. Additionally, debriefs with children do not always take place. Documents lack management oversight and critical reflection. This is a missed opportunity to reflect on serious incidents, consider alternative ways of managing children’s behaviour, and reduce the frequency of episodes taking place.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Managers do not notify Ofsted when serious incidents occur in the home. This means that Ofsted has not been able to scrutinise incidents to ensure that children are kept safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Leaders, managers and staff have not taken adequate action to safeguard by always ensuring the security of the home. This has left children feeling vulnerable and subject to bullying from others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has not provided sufficient oversight of serious incidents that have occurred, nor has there been any meaningful reflection around learning from such incidents. This means that staff are not receiving adequate support to care for children and keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are held; however, they are not always well attended, and meeting minutes are inadequately maintained. The manager is not using team meetings as a forum to consider the child’s progress and development or what is needed to support staff development, such as targeted training to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to meet the child’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent visitor reports are not always made available to Ofsted, which affects the external monitoring of children’s safety and welfare. The manager does not have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care for children, and records relating to children’s care and support are not always found in the correct place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff say that supervision is useful and helpful. However, supervision records are lacking detail and do not allow staff to critically reflect on incidents or their practice. This hampers staff’s personal and professional development and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home environment does not reflect a child’s home. Many areas require considerable improvement for the home to be a welcoming environment where children can live and relax. Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; 13 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 6 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure the safety and security of the home and take appropriate action against those who pose a safeguarding concern.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that risk management plans are reviewed regularly and provide staff with sufficient guidance to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all risk management plans undergo a thorough quality assurance process by a capable and knowledgeable manager.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 14 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 7 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 8 receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 14 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 9 A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 14 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 14 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 10 demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must have suitable oversight of records of significant events and use monitoring and review systems to make improvements when needed.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that team meetings are well attended and used as an opportunity for staff to share information and good practice and to collectively reflect and learn from practice.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that staff receive training that is relevant to the children’s individual needs, such as behaviour management, going missing from home, and dyspraxia.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 13 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 11 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(viii)(viiii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that the home meets children’s day-to-day needs and physical necessities. The home must be a warm, welcoming environment that is personalised for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI and make a copy of it available upon request to—

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Requirement Due date

a child, or a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered;

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Requirement Due date

a parent of a child, or a parent of a child for whom accommodation in the home is being considered; a child’s placing authority; and

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a qualifying school, the Secretary of State.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

If a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. 14 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 12 Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

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Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations; or

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Requirement Due date

any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e) (3)(a)(b) (4) (5) (6)(a)(b))

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Scott & Wilkinson, Dalton House, 9 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1WD

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Inspectors

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2519196 14 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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